The need for speed: Timely prevention of the dispersal of noxious weeds in relief fodder using efficient sampling procedures
- Authors: Weller, Sandra , Florentine, Singarayer , Sillitoe, Jim , Grech, Charles , McLaren, David , Chauhan, Bhagirath
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Crop Protection Vol. 70, no. (2015), p. 21-27
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- Description: Invasive and noxious weeds are well known as a pervasive problem, imposing significant economic burdens on all areas of agriculture. Whilst there are multiple possible pathways of weed dispersal in this industry, of particular interest to this discussion is the unintended dispersal of weed seeds within fodder. During periods of drought or following natural disasters such as wild fire or flood, there arises the urgent need for 'relief' fodder to ensure survival and recovery of livestock. In emergency situations, relief fodder may be sourced from widely dispersed geographic regions, and some of these regions may be invaded by an extensive variety of weeds that are both exotic and detrimental to the intended destination for the fodder. Pasture hay is a common source of relief fodder and it typically consists of a mixture of grassy and broadleaf species that may include noxious weeds. When required urgently, pasture hay for relief fodder can be cut, baled, and transported over long distances in a short period of time, with little opportunity for prebaling inspection. It appears that, at the present time, there has been little effort towards rapid testing of bales, post-baling, for the presence of noxious weeds, as a measure to prevent dispersal of seeds. Published studies have relied on the analysis of relatively small numbers of bales, tested to destruction, in order to reveal seed species for identification and enumeration. The development of faster, more reliable, and non-destructive sampling methods is essential to increase the fodder industry's capacity to prevent the dispersal of noxious weeds to previously unaffected locales.
Detection, quantification and management of the dispersal of Nassella neesiana (Chilean Needle Grass) seeds in hay bales
- Authors: Weller, Sandra , Florentine, Singarayer , Ambrose, Graeme , Grech, Charles , McLaren, David
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 17th Australasian Weeds Conference: New Frontiers in New Zealand, Together we can beat the weeds p. 428-430
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- Description: Summary This paper outlines a project that intends to investigate the link between the occurrences of weeds in pasture hay crops and weed seeds in bales. Noxious weed in particular pose a threat to the livelihoods of primary producers in this manner. As an example of a noxious weed, this project will investigate Nassella neesiana, Chilean needle grass. This species is a restricted (noxious) weed that infests roadsides, native grasslands and pastures that may be baled for hay. In Victoria it has the potential to cause significant economic harm to agricultural areas and the trade in fodder and hay. This project aims to develop methods for the detection of weed seeds in hay bales and provide more information about the role of hay machinery in their spread. Later, we will investigate the extent of seed shedding from hay bales during transportation by road. This project will attempt to correlate the percentage cover of N. neesiana prior to harvest with the seed content of bales. Trial core samples from bales indicate that seeds of N. neesiana and other grass species were present. However, a correlation has not yet been established between weed biomass and the seed content of bales.